White House about-face
From Wolf Blitzer
CNN
WASHINGTON -- Under considerable political pressure, including from all five Republican 9/11 commission members, the White House reversed itself on two sensitive issues.
First, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice will now testify publicly and under oath before the commission. Earlier, the White House had insisted she meet only privately with the members -- and not be sworn in.
In making this concession after weeks of refusal, the White House demanded and received two conditions -- that the commission agree in writing that Rice's testimony "does not set any precedent for future commission requests," and that the commission also agree in writing that "it will not request additional public testimony from any White House official, including Dr. Rice."
The second White House reversal allows President Bush and Vice President Cheney to meet jointly with all 10 members of the commission -- not only with the committee chairman, former New Jersey Republican Gov. Thomas Kean, and vice chairman, former Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton, as earlier demanded by the White House.
"For us the 10 commissioners were the key point and the fact that we think we can get the information we need with the president and the vice president in the room," said Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton at a press conference on Monday.
In contrast to Rice, their appearance before the 10-member panel will be behind closed doors and not under oath. Only one commission staff member will be allowed in the room to take notes of the session.
The 9/11 commission released a letter to the White House accepting all these conditions.
"We got some very good testimony from Dr. Rice in private sessions," said Commission Chairman Thomas Kean Monday. "It was candid. It was factual. It stayed to the questions asked. She stayed with the commission as long as we needed her. My hope is that she will replicate that testimony in public as well."
